Typically, individuals must be hired by a Montana law enforcement agency before they attend the Law Enforcement Officer Basic Course. The Pre-Service Program allows individuals to apply directly to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy to attend this course. Under the Pre-Service Program, individuals who are accepted into the Basic Course:

have not yet been hired by a law enforcement agency

are not sworn law enforcement officers

pay for the course themselves

must be 20 years of age

must successfully pass the Montana Law Enforcement Testing Consortium

must successfully pass a Background Investigation

Placement Rate

Since the inception of the Pre-Service Program, the Montana Law Enforcement Academy had a 95 percent placement rate for Pre-Service Program graduates with law enforcement agencies across the state.

Cost

Applicants are responsible for their own funding sources. Law Enforcement Officer Basic Course qualifies for GI Bill Benefits. Applicants are expected to make full payment at registration.

How to Apply

Because a limited number of positions in each Law Enforcement Officer Basic Course class are available for pre-service applicants, acceptance into the course is competitive. Pre-service applicants must take a written and physical exam to determine their fitness for the law enforcement profession.

Take the required tests:

Written test – the three-part POST test that includes a peace officer selection test, a reading skills test and a writing skills test. Applicants must obtain a passing score on each phase of this examination.

Required tests are administered by the Montana Law Enforcement Testing Consortium (MLETC). Please go to their website (http://www.MTLETC.org/) to register.

Download, print and complete the pre-service application. Return the application, along with your test scores, to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. Applications submitted without scores, will not be accepted. Upon receipt of your application, you will receive a confirmation letter.

The Academy then schedules applicant interviews based on an initial ranking. After the interviews, the Academy assigns a final ranking to determine if and when an applicant may attend the Law Enforcement Officer Basic Course as a pre-service student.

Applicants accepted into the course must then send the $300 non-refundable acceptance deposit to the Academy within ten (10) days of acceptance. Applicants who fail to submit this deposit will lose their position in the course.

Applicants must pay the remaining $4,800 (in-state residents)/$6,800(out-of-state residents) during registration on the first day of the course (unless, prior to registration, they have notified the Academy’s Administration Office that they have arranged an alternative funding source, as explained under Cost).